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COVER ART
Ronnie Goodman is a 53-year-old self-taught artist. He writes: I am sad to
say I spent most of my life in and out of prisons battling drug addiction and struggling to fi nd my own voice and way to a meaningful life. A twisted act of fate brought me to San Quentin State Prison on a ten-year term for burglary in 2003. There I signed up for the San Quentin Art Programs – that was the start of my new existence in life. I became prolifi c, touched with enlightenment by the master artists and printmakers who were my teachers and mentors. I was transformed into an artist and not a prisoner. In 2010, I was released into society and into the despair of homelessness. However, a new life came to emerge in my creativity and homelessness became my new composition. I saw society’s ills in a new light. The nature and spirit of my artwork has become the refl ection of my survival. My redemption: to create and give back to society, to contribute to raising the awareness of our social ills through my art, some of which can be viewed at http://www.fl ickr.com/photos/ronniegoodman.
Front Cover: “Homeless State Prison” 2010, linocut print on paper
Ronnie Goodman
“Homeless State Prison” is an emotional refl ection of my thoughts about society’s ills and the struggles of hope in a surreal, but real world. It is a refl ection of human despair, homelessness, mental illness and institutionalization. Back Cover: “Letter of Rejection”
(top) 2010, linocut print on paper
Ronnie Goodman
The prisoner in this engraving was a personal friend of mine who was rejected by the parole board for the fi fth time. When he found out he had a somber look and spirit, and I decided to do a sketch of him that I later transformed into an etching. He knew he probably would never be released from prison, so he chose death over medical treatment and died in prison. Back Cover: “Breaking the Chains”
(bottom) 2012, linocut print on paper
Ronnie Goodman
“Breaking the Chains” is about personal growth: changing patterns of self-infl iction, fi ghting for empowerment and transforming into a positive change. It is a poetic visualization of removing things that limit your mind and reaching for new possibilities.
